Ironing machine



May V22, 1928.

A. MAEscHER IRONING MACHINE Filed oct. a, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 .May 22,1928.

A. MAESCHER IRONING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed. Oct. 8, 192

May 22, 192s. Y 1,671,035

A. MAESCHER IRONING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 @WMMPatented May 22, i 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

f A-LBERT MAESCHER, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOHAROLD J'.

WRAPE, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IRONING MACHINE.

Application led October 48, 1924. Serial No. 742,297.

This invention relates to ironing machines, and more particularly tosuch clothes ironing machines as may be used for domestic ironingoperations.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide improved mechanismfor operating an ironing machine of this type.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved constructionof the table permitting easier handling thereof and removal whenrequired. v i

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means' fortaking up the strain due to the pressure between the table and the roll.

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewV showing an ironing machine embodyingthis invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the reversingmechanism;

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1 with parts shown in section;

Figure 4.- is a section on ure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken about on line 5 5' Figure 6 and illustratingthe table support;

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the table support; y

Figures 7, 8 and 9 show diferent forms of table boards;

Figure 10 is an end view of the roll with the gear removed and showingthe mounting of the hood; r

Figure 11 is a detail of Figure 10, and

Figure 12 is a view of the braking mechanism taken on line 12-12, Figure1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the machineis supported generallyby a pair of end frames 1 which may be iron castings or similarstructures. These frames are connected by a series of cross-bars 2 whichserve to space the end frames and also as supports for certain parts ofthe mechanism. Mounted on the lower pair of crossbars 2 is a bracket 3on which is supported an 11p-right. column 4, within which is mountedthe support for the ironing table 5 as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. Mounted between the side frames l is an ironing roll suitablyheated and provided with mechanism for causing the same to line Ll---l-,i Fig- -to heat the roll.

travel forwardly across the ironing table 5 'and then return to itsrearward position.

Referring now more particularlyto Figures 2, 3 and 4,' each end frame 1is provided with a cross-member 7 upon which is fixed a rack 8. Mountedto roll on the rack 8 is a gear 9. There is a pair of gears 9, eachrolling on a rack 8 on one of the end frames l. These gears carrybetween them and liXed thereto a shaft 10 which also carries between thegears the ironing roll 6. The shaft 10 is hollow and may be providedwith a suitable connection for attachment to a gas supply or similarheat supply. The shaft 10 may also 'be provided within the roll 6 withsuitable jets or burners adapted The heating connections are wellunderstood in the art and, therefore, need no detail description here.Mounted in bearings 11 in one of the end frames 1 is an elongated wormor screw 12. This screw ext/ends parallel with the rack 8 and engagesthe teeth of the gear 9 so as to provide means for driving said gear inrotation. The gear 9 on this side ispreferably a spiral or skew gear inorder to mesh with the worm 12. The shank of the screw 12 carries at itsrearward end a pulley or Sheave 13 adapted to be driven by a belt 14from the driving mechanism which will presently be dc-` scribed. Whenthe screw 12 is rotated, it will act as a worm engaging the gear 9 so asto drive the same in rotation. Such rotation will, of course, onvaccount of the engagement with the rack 8, which may also have spiralteeth, drive the gear longitudinally along the end frame 1 so las tomove the roll 6 across the table 5f Since the table 5 is arranged,- aswill hereinafter be more fully described, to bear against the roll underpressure, means are provided for taking up the resulting strain on theroll 6 so as to relieve the screw 12 thereof. These means areillustrated in Figures 3 and 4. A pair of longitudinal rails 15 extendacross each end member l above and parallel with the rack 8. The shaft10 passes between said rails and carries loosely ymounted thereon aflanged roller 16 engaging the rails 15. These rails form guides for theshaft 10 and the roll 6 to limit endwise play of the roll and take upthe pressureof connected* parts.

lever 22 may be operated to slide the shaft- 18 lin-its bearings as willbe described later.

rlfhe shaft .18 carries a pair of rbeveledV friction discs 25 adapted-to engage. the corresponding beveled friction disc 26 carried by ashaft 27 driven by a suitable driving motor 28. Both of the discs 25 arefixed to the shaft 18 so that by shift-ing said shaft axially, either ofthe discs 25 may be brought. into engagement with the disc 26. 'llhusthe shaft 18 may be rotated in opposite directions by bringing one orthe other of the discs 25 into engagement with the'disc 26. This,therefore, provides a reversible driving mechanism for operating theroll.

Suitably pivoted on the cross-bar 29. extending between the end frames 1is a treadle 30. This treadle is fixed to the bar 29 so as to rotate thesame when depressed. 'lhe bar 29 also carries a crank-arm 31 connectedby a link 32 with the lower end of the lever 22. A spring 33 is alsoconnect-ed at one end with the lower end of the lever 22 and at itsother end tothe frame as illustrated in Figure 3. This spring isadjusted in tension so as to raise the treadle 30 when released by theoperator. It will be clear that when the treadle 30 is depressed, thebar 29 will be rotated so as to swing the arm 31 to the` right, Figure3, thereby operating the lever 22 so as to move t-he shaft 18 to theleft, Figure 3. This will bring one of the discs 25 into engagement withthe disc 26 so as to operate the screw 12 in such a direction as todrive the gear 9 forwardly along the rack 8 so as to move the roll 6forwardly across the table 5. As soon as the t-readle 30 is released,the spring 33 willl raise the same and the roll will be automaticallystopped and retracted as will now be more fully described. The treadleis thus selfreturning so that it may be manipulated by simple pressureand release. n

Pivoted at 34: on one of the end frames 1 is an arm or lever 35connected by means v j of a vertical link 36 with an arm 37 fixed to theshaft forming the pivotl 23. Both the armv 37 and the lever 22 are fixedto this shaft 23. It will be clear, therefore,

,that when the arm 35 is rocked about its pivot, the link 36 will rockthe arm 37 and, therefore, the lever 22 about its pivot so as to shiftthe shaft 18 to bring one of the discs 25 intol or out of engagementwith the dise 26. The arm 35 is provided at its forward end with a bleekor facing 38 which may be of steel or other suit-able material adaptedto engage a tappet 39 mounted on the gear 9. The gear 9 and the rack 8are so proportioned that the gear will make one complete revolution intraveling from its rearward position to its forward position as shown inFigure 3. ll'hen the gear reaches the forward end of its travel.therefore, the tappet 39 will strike the block 38 depressing the forwardend of the lever 35 so as to lift the link 36, thereby rotating theshaft 23 so as to operate the lever 22 to reverse the drive. rll`hisdevice, therefore, limits the forward travel of the roll across thetable and immediately reverses the travel, moving the rollback aga-inacross the table to its original position. As the gear reaches therearward limit of its travel. thetappet 39 strikes a facing 40 similarto the facing 38 but on the opposite end of the lever lhe facing 40,however, is not so high as the facing 38 and is adjusted so that themovement of the arm 35 consequent upon the engagement of the tappet withthe facing 4l) is just enough to cause the shaft 18 to be shifted toneutral position with both of the discs 25 out of engagement with thedisc 26.

lWith the dises in this position, however, the

drive is cut od' and thetravel of the roll l will stop. "llt will beclear, therefore, that when the operator depresses the treadle 30 theroll will travel forwardly across the table to the forward limitof itstravel where it will be automatically reversed to travel back again toits original position where it will stop. The operation of the lever 22in stopping the roll will at the same time, raise the treadle 3() to itsoriginal position. rlibe spring 33 operates the reversing mechanism soas to retract the roll. The roll, however, at the end of its returntravel operates the lever-35 so as to throw the reversing mechanism intoneutral and stop the machine. The operator must be guided in themanipulation of the treadle 30 by the action of the machine. When thetreadle is 'depressed the roll starts forward. At the limit of itsforward `travel it operates the lever 35 to shift the reversingmechanism` and retract the roll, at the same time raising the treadle30. At this point the operator will remove his pressure from thetreadle. rl`he roll now travels backward until the tappet 39 engages theplate 40 and operates the lever 35 to shift the reversing mechanism toneutral. Thus the roll always stops in retracted position clear of thetable. n

In order to absorb the momentum of the roll and check the returnmovementthereof, a brake is provided as illustrated in Figure 12. A pin81 is fixed to one of the gears 9 of the roll. The brake member 82 ispivoted Abracket -19 are mounted.

at 83 on one of the end frames 1,'and is yieldingly tensioned by aspring84 attachedto the end of the member 82and anchored to` theframe 1. This provides aA yielding stop to check the return movement(indicated by the arrow in Figure' 12) of the roll, and reventpthe samefrom striking against the rame. "j

Referring now more particularly to Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, the bracket3 is carried by the lower cross-bars 2 and in its turn carries togetherwith the end bracket 1 the base 41 upon which the motor 28 and the Thisbracket 3 also supports the up-right column 4 supporting the table 5 aspreviously pointed out. The column 4 may be in the form of a tube withinwhich is mounted the shank of a carrier 42, the lower end of Whichrestsupon a spring 43 bearing on the head 44 o a stem 45 suitably guided bythe colulnn 4 and passing through the bracket 3, being.

pivoted below said bracket at 46 to a lever .47. The lever 47 is pivotedat 48 to a downward extension 49 of the bracket The lever 47 extendsforwardly and is equipped at its end with a pedal 50 pivoted at 51 tothe lever 47 and heldby a spring 52 against a stop pin 53 on the lever47. The pedal 50 is provided with a lip 54 adapted to take over a lug 55on the bracket 3 to hold the lever 47 in operative position. Therearward end of the lever 47 bends downwardly and is equipped with alaterally projecting` pin 56.

The upward travel of the carrier 42 is limited by a stop 810 ixed in thecolumn 4 and engaging a head 820 on the carrier. This stop 810 locatesthe carrier in its uppermost position in the column but permitsdepression thereof against the spring 43. The carrier 42 has a pin 57engaging a slot 58 in the column 4 so as to retain thecarrier againstrotation. The upper end of the carrier 42 is provided with a slot 59adapted to receivea pin carried by ajsocket 6l attached to a board orplate forming the body ofthe table 5. A number of such boards or platesmay be provided of diferent shapes as illustrated in Figures 7, 8v and9. Each boardis provided with a socket 61 adapted to fiton the carrier42. Each' board may also be suitably padded and covered as is the usualpractice for ironing boards. It will be noted that the table 5 is thusyieldj ingly mounted so that when the roll passes the roll.

operative position after the same has been` of the roll. When such anemergency takes place, the operator by depressing the pedal 50 may causethe stem 45 to be lowered, thereby allowing the carrier 42 to drop 1nthe-column 4 to the limit of its movement. This carries the table 5downwardly so as to move the table 'out of engagement with In. order torestore the table to depressed, a lever 63 is provided. This lever ispivoted at 64 to a downward extension 65 on the bracket 3 and extendsforwardly alongside of the lever 47 as shown in Figure 5 and is providedwith a pedal 66 adjacent the pedal 50. This lever is held in raisedposition by a spring 67 and is provided with .an upwardly bent portion68 to' provide a stop engaging the bracket 3. The pin 56 on the lever 47extends under the lever 63. When the lever 47 is dropped so as to lowerthe table, the pin 56 will be raisedinto engagement with the lever 63.lVhen in this position depression of the pedal 66 will move the lever 63downwardly, thereby depressing the pin 56 and rocking the lever 47 backto its operative position. When the lever 47 reaches its upwardposition, the catch 54 will snap over the lug 55 and retain the lever inthatposition. The pedal 66 thus provides means for restoring the tableto operative position after it has been depressed.

A guard 69 may be provided for the roll 6. This guard is designed toprotect the roll and the operator and may be lconstructed of sheetmetalor other suitable material and may be provided with a series ofperforations 70 to permit the escape of heated air thereby cooling theguard. rl.`he guard is open at the bot-tom so as to permit the roll toengage the table. The guard 69 is loosely mounted on a pair ofcross-bars 71 carried by a pair of brackets 72 hinged on the shaft 10.The guard 69 being loosely laid on the rods 71 may be removed at anytime for inspection or cleaning of the roll. In order to maintain theguard Yin up-right position the brackets 72 may be provided with rollers73 adapted to take under an out-turned lip 74 formed on a guard 75 whichcovers and protects the gears 9 in their tra-vel along the frame.

The work may then be shifted so as to bring another portion thereof onthe table and the n The work is ironed by the roll 1n lts passage overthe table.,

capable of doing rapid work. The same isv operation is repeated. Theroll may loe moved through only part of its forward travel and thenreversed or retracted. A

fback-and-tort-h movement through a sliertdistance may also be producedby proper manipulation of the treadle. This procedure is continued untilthe piece is completel)Y ironed llt will be noted that the roll isdriven by gearing which carries the same across the table, first in aforward and then in a rearward direction. A reversible driving mechanismdrives this gearing and is connected to he `operated by the pivotedlever 35. This lever extends along the travel of the gearing and isengaged by the same at the ends ot' its travel and at opposite ends ofthe lever. .htthe forward end, theoperation is to reverse the drive soas to reverse the travel of the roll and at its rearward end the roll isstopped.

The table is arranged to maintain a uniform pressure oit the workagainst the roll and the rails l5 provide Vfor taking up this pressureon the roll. Tt will be seen that the roll is lett in a position hack ofthe table so as to clear the same: accordingljrv the table may at thattime he readil)v removed and replaced with another one of differentshape or size. This table mavv also be dropped or raised at an;Y time bvdropping and raising its support through the medium of the treadles 50and 66. A pan 8() carried by the ends l provides a receptacle below theroll for the clothes, and more especially the loose ends thereof. 4

llt will be seen. therefore, that this invention provides a simplemachine for carrying out ordinarv-Y domestic ironing operations and onewhich is convenient'to handle and also provided with safetyr devices toprevent damage in the case of emergencies.

Tt will be also Jlnoted that the roll 6 is of: less diameter than thegears 9 which give the roll its linear movement; Consequentlg1 therotarvv movement of the periphery of the roll will be less than thelinear movement thereof. This provides that the roll will have a slidingmovement forwardly over the table and with respect to the clothes. amovement which produces an ironing and smoothing effect similar to thatof the ordinary sad iron. This movement. is effective. for instance, inironing collars and similar-articles, to produce the much desired sheenon the ironed surface without too pronounced a gloss such as is usuallyYproduced by a.- roll having onl);v rotary movement without linearmovement.

It is obvious that various changes may he made/in details ofconstruction without departing` from the spirit of this invention; itlis, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limitedto the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described the invention, vwhatis claimed is:

l. A clothes ironing machine, comprising, a frame, an oblong rtablemounted in said frame, a heated roll mounted in said frame y and alongsaid table and guided for movenient transversehv over said table, meansfor moving said roll over said table, and means actuated hv a partrotating with said roller for reversing said movement.

2. clothes ironing machine, comprising. atrame, an oblong table mountedin said frame. a heated roll mounted in `said trame and along said tableand guided for movement transversely over said table, gears on saidroll, racks ,engaging said gears and adapted to maintain the alinementot said roll. and means engaging said gears adapted to drive said rollback and forth.

3. A clothes ironing machine, comprising, a table. a. heated rolladapted to travel across said table and a ventilated guard for said rolladapted fto move therewith and positioned so as to be removed frominfluence ot` the meansA for heating said roll.

el. it clothes ironing machine, comprising, a table, a heated rolladapted to travel across savid table and a ventilated guard for andcarried hy said roll and positioned so as' to be removed from influenceof the means for heating said roll.

5. An ironing machine, comprising a heated roll, a table, gearingadapted to move said .roll across said table. reversing mechanism forsaid gearing, and a lever connected to said mechanism to control thesame, said lever being engagahle bv a part rotating with 'said roll atone end of the travel thereof to operate said mechanism to reverse saidroll and at the other end thereof to disconneet said mechanism to stopsaid roll.

6. An ironing machine, comprising. a heated roll, a table, driving meansconnected wit-h said roll and mounted for longitudinal travel to movesaid roll across said table, a pivoted arm extending along the travel ofsaid driving means, a tappet on said driving means adapted to engagesaid arm aththe end ot said travel, and means connected with said armfor reversing said travel.

7. An ironing machine,l comprising. a. heated, roll, a. table, gearing`connected with said roll and mounted for longitudinal travel to movesaid roll across said table. a pivoted arm extending along the travel ofsaid gearing, reversible and disconnectible driving mechanism connectedwith said arm, a tappet on said gearing adapted to engage said arm atoneend thereof and move the same to reverse said mechanism and aty theother end thereof to disconnect said mechamsm.A

lio.

8. In a clothes ironing machine having a heated roll mounted on a shaft,a hood fon in upright positionJr 9.111 a clothes ironing machine havinga heated roll mounted on a shaft, a hood for the roll, meansforsupporting said hood on the shaft, and a guiding rail cooperatingwith and adapted to keep hood in upright position. I.

10. In la clothes ironing machine having a heated roll mounted on ashaft, a hood for the roll, a bracket on said shaft for supporting saidhood on the shaft, a guiding rail, and means on said bracket, engagingsai rail to keep said hood in upright position'.

11. A clothes ironing machine, comprising, a frame, a table, a rollguided for movement forward and backward on said frame and' over saidtable, a stop moving with said roll, and a yielding brake positioned tobe fricv tionally engaged by said stop to check the return movement orsaid roll.

.12. A clothes ironing machine, comprising, a frame, a table, a rollguided forv movement forward and back on said frame andd over vsaidtable, a stopmoving with said roll, and

a sp1-ing controlled arm positioned .to be frictionally engaged by saidstop to checkv the return movement of said roll.

In testimony whereof I aix my si gnature d this 29th day of August,1924.

ALBERT MAESCHER.

